Cooler Holding AIDS-Infected Blood Stolen
A container stolen during the weekend from an AIDS testing service in Van Nuys held six vials of blood that had tested positive for the virus that causes the deadly disease, the Los Angeles Police Department reported Monday.
Police suspect someone stole the container to use as a cooler but did not know what was in it, Sgt. Scott Currey said.
The pale green and white cooler--large enough to contain a six-pack of soft drinks--was stolen from ICS Home Health Services at 14920 Oxnard Street, Currey said. It contained half-inch glass vials of blood about 4 inches in length and capped with red stoppers, he said.
The container also held two packages of “blue ice” coolant.
It was not known exactly when or how the container was stolen, he said. The office apparently was open for business when the theft occurred, and there was no break-in, he said.
“We’re concerned that the person that picked it up wanted a cooler to take to the beach and might discard the vials,” Currey said.
“We hope no children find it. If they do, we hope that they will call police.”
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
